The two girls who were drinking vodka with 15-year-old Sarah
Botill at a sleepover that ended in her death tried to sober her up
in the shower Saturday morning, a source close to the investigation
said.
The two girls who were drinking vodka with 15-year-old Sarah Botill at a sleepover that ended in her death tried to sober her up in the shower Saturday morning, a source close to the investigation said.
Police told the Dispatch Thursday that one of the two girls at the sleepover is an 18-year-old – legally an adult. The other girl was also 15 years old. Both could face charges, said Sgt. Jim Gilio.
Meanwhile, Gilroy police said no one will face charges under the city’s Social Host Ordinance for Saturday’s death, which was possibly alcohol-related.
Firefighters responded to former Councilman Roland Velasco and his wife Lisa’s home where Botill – a Gilroy High School student – was staying Saturday, sources said. In 2007, Velasco led the charge in creating the ordinance – which punishes adults or landowners who allow parties with underage drinking. Velasco did not return calls this week, but friends and colleagues have said that he is distraught.
Velasco does not drink and does not have any alcohol in his house, Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage said. Velasco is a longtime policy aide for Gage.
Gage, a former Gilroy mayor, also confirmed that vomit was found in the shower at the Velasco residence.
A report in the Mercury News, attributed to unnamed sources, said that the autopsy on Botill “revealed (she) had a large amount of water in her lungs.” Gilroy Police Sgt. Gillio said that report contained an inaccuracy, but he would not say what the inaccuracy was or confirm the coroner’s findings.
Meanwhile the community has rallied around the Botill family, providing them prayers, food, days off and words of comfort.
The 15-year-old became ill after she and two teens drank vodka at a home on the 9700 block of Bunting Court in the early hours of Saturday morning, police said. Velasco went to bed about 11 p.m. Friday and believed the alcohol was brought in some time after 1 a.m. Saturday, Gage said.
Police will not reveal where the alcohol came from, but said it came from outside the home. Sources said that the alcohol was not directly purchased from a store that evening.
Roland’s wife was the first to notice something was wrong when she came downstairs in the morning, Gage said.
Police said the teenager was alive but unresponsive and had difficulty breathing when fire and police responded to the emergency call.
An American Medical Response ambulance was dispatched from the AMR station at U.S. 101 and Masten Road at 8:46 a.m., and arrived at the Bunting Court home at 8:54 a.m., said Jeff Dane, operations manager for AMR in Santa Clara County. Engine 71 arrived from Las Animas Fire Station at 8:52 a.m., police said. AMR left the home at 9:12 a.m. and arrived at Saint Louise Regional Hospital at 9:20 a.m., Dane said. The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:30 a.m., Gillio said.
The coroner conducted an autopsy Monday, but Gillio said toxicology results might not be forthcoming for five to six weeks. The coroner’s office referred all calls to Gilroy police. A woman who picked up the phone at the coroner’s office said results are pending and the office has not released any information on Botill. The woman, who would not give her name, hung up abruptly.
AMR staff immediately seeks to protect the breathing and heart rate of any person who is unconscious or unresponsive, regardless of whether alcohol is involved, Dane said.
However, he would not go into the specifics of Saturday’s incident.
To help the family through their hard times, some residents and businesses, such as Mimi’s Cafe, have helped provide meals for the family this week.
Mike Gray, general manager of Mimi’s Cafe in Gilroy, said a relative of Sarah’s works at the restaurant, and the eatery wanted to do what it could to help.
“As far as I know, the family is holding together the best as they can,” he said.
Staff at Victoria’s Mexican Restaurant also offered to provide meals for the family. Owner Donald Prieto said he went to school with Sarah’s mother, Michelle, and said firefighters often stop by to eat. He said he cannot imagine what the family is going through at this time.
“If they need anything, we’re here,” Prieto said.
Employees from all city departments have donated vacation, personal and worker’s compensation leave to Botill’s father, Mike Botill, a Gilroy firefighter, said LeeAnn McPhillips, the City of Gilroy director of human resources. The donations were made through a catastrophic leave program that the city has for such emergency occasions.
“I know that our employees are the most generous group I’ve ever met,” she said.
A memorial service for Sarah Botill will be held 1 p.m. Monday at South Valley Community Church, 8095 Kelton Drive. In addition, Communities United in Prevention announced they planned to dedicate their annual candlelight vigil, a memorial to victims of alcohol-related traffic accidents, to Botill. The vigil will be 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Gilroy Senior Center roundabout, 7173 Hanna St.
Several people who know the family say Botill’s death is particularly tragic as the Botill’s daughter, Emily, died from an illness in 1999 at 23 months of age. The incident has been the topic of conversation among many in the emergency response community, Dane said, noting that they are a tight-knit group.
“My heart goes out to that family,” Dane said.
